Epilog auto focus

[Robert L Stewart]

When I am cutting thin plastics like the Romark Flexi Brass brushed (.020) material, I find that it warps and cups while I am in the middle of a vector cut. The strips are between 1.5" to 3.5" wide and 22" or so long.

My idea is to make some hold downs that would take care of maybe 80% of the movement. I would like to use 3/16 x 1 x 22" cold rolled bar stock and create a .040 rabbet for the material to slide under.

I have about 5/16" clearance now using a 1.5" focal lens.

The issue is that I will need to remove the auto focus plunger on my Epilog mini 24 to have more clearance. Also in case I need to hold down thicker material down the road using different custom hold downs.

Has anyone removed their plunger? I can see what looks like a small allen screw on the side. Is it that easy?

Robert

[Frank Corker]

Robert, I removed mine some time back because the plunger kept catching stuff. Very simple to remove, grab hold of the large piece above the 'springy' plunger where it meets the laser head and twist it. It will unscrew, just make sure that you put it somewhere safe, also watch for the spring when you have unscrewed it. Removing it will not harm your laser, just remember that you are on manual focus all the time too or you will push the workpiece right into the lens.

[Frank Corker]

see the picture below. Where my finger is and where the grub screw is, that is the part that you get hold of with your thumb and index finger. A small twist and it will unscrew. DON'T REMOVE THE SMALL GRUB SCREW - that stays in! Note too the spring that is still there, make sure you put it safe with the rest of the plunger.

[Robert L Stewart]

Frank,

Thanks for the reply and the detailed pic.

Exactly what I was looking for. I used the auto focus a few times when I first got the laser but gave it up after hitting the plunger on thicker stock. No doubt a typical experience for most newbies.

Off to the shop to make my new hold downs

Robert

[Gary Bernat]

Also remember that the auto focus plunger is your upper table limit as well. So if you use the auto focus on the driver the table will go up and not stop. Your table will top up! HEADS UP!

[Robert L Stewart]

Good point Gary.

Don't think I will ever use it again. I am very happy with the manual focus that I never even give auto a second thought.

[Kim Vellore]

I removed the auto focus after a few days of use. The chances of the plunger missing the object and damaging something is more with auto focus ON. After years of use without AF never missed it.
Kim

[Bill Cunningham]

Mine stopped working a few months ago, it would go up and stop correctly, but just kept going down.. Epilog said replace the ribbon cable, and if that does not work, the problem may be in the table motor.. I just stopped using it.. I haven't pulled off the plunger yet, wasn't sure what I had to undo first.. Thanks Frank.. Tomorrow I will take the plunge... right off the machine...

[Robert L Stewart]

Well I took it out and it was so easy. Now there is so much clearance!

Thanks again Frank.

Robert

[Gary Bernat]

The reason the table kept going down is beacuse the auto focus plunger maybe stuck in the up poistion. If you take off your I-beam cover you will see a PCB right above the lens assembly. When the auto plunger goes up you will see a small black square piece go up to were the PCB is at. The small black piece maybe getting stuck against the PCB. The PCB has 2 allen screws on it. Sometimes you can loosen those screws and move the PCB a little bit to give the plunger room to go up and down.

Hope this helps!

[Martin Boekers]

in the mean time you may use double sided tape to hold it to the vector grid.

I use it anyway with the small stuff as sometimes the air assist will move the piece.

Marty

[craig troon]

HI guys i hope i get an answer here,with the auto focus is there one for 2inch and a different one for 1.5 lens?
cheers

[Chris DeGerolamo]

Before you remove it, spray some WD40 / cleaner of your choice in/around it and work it in....move the AF up and down to clean it - dust has prevented mine from "returning to zero" if you will.